From what I heard there was a time when transparency and openness was a thing in Canberra Theatre. Until companies started using it against each other, purposefully conflicting schedules and even sniping show rights from under other companies. That is what I have heard when asking this same question.

Apart from the obvious issues with theatre booking availability/schedules, theatre companies won’t talk to each other because the local theatre scene has turned into a hugely competitive award-chasing playing field – trying to get information out of any of them as to future planning is like trying to get blood from a stone. It’s all about who can get the biggest show, get the most local CAT awards and never mind about the others. 15 years(ish) ago there were less than ten theatre companies, now there are over twenty, all (ok some) wanting to come out on top and make money at the expense of the others. It’s a sad state of affairs

Just to note – it’s worse than you think. Phoenix Players have already announced they’re doing the musical “High Fidelity” in February (a month before both of these) as well. There’s currently noticable issues with five musicals running locally in the June/July period (and then no musicals running at all for August and September – there were also none in April and May). Squishing everything into the same few months is bad for audiences, it’s bad for performers, it’s bad for musicians and it’s bad for crew. Why does this keep happening?